Md. Approves In-State Tuition For Immigrants, Alcohol Tax Hike

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (WJZ/AP) — Maryland lawmakers scrambled to resolve a variety of unfinished business before Monday’s midnight adjournment of the General Assembly. But the Maryland General Assembly did approve a bill to grant in-state college tuition rates to illegal immigrants who meet certain requirements.

Kelly McPherson has more on what bills passed and which didn’t.

The House of Delegates voted 74-65 on Monday night to send the immigrant tuition bill to Gov. Martin O’Malley, who says he will sign the legislation.

The measure will allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates at Maryland’s public universities if they complete two years at a community college. They also have to show their parents paid state taxes for at least three years before they graduated high school.

Earlier in the day, senators objected to changes governing how parents showed they had paid taxes. House and Senate negotiators removed the controversial portion, and the House accepted the change.

Maryland’s sales tax on alcohol will jump 50 percent in July. The General Assembly late Monday approved a bill to increase the sales tax on alcohol from 6 percent to 9 percent to raise money for schools and to help the developmentally disabled.

Lawmakers raised the amount set aside in an earlier proposal to ease a waiting list for services for the developmentally disabled from $5 million to $15 million. Lawmakers also are debating a separate bill that includes $47 million in proceeds to school construction.

Republicans said it was a terrible time to raise the tax. Democrats contend the tax hike specific to alcohol is long overdue.

“They’re tired of this process,” said Delegate Mike McDermott, R-Worcester. “They’re tired of not being heard. They’re tired of you deciding what’s right on a dark night and ramming this through at the 89th day.”

But Democrats said rural areas on the Eastern Shore and western Maryland have benefited considerably in recent years in the allocation of school construction money. House Speaker Michael Busch, D-Anne Arundel, said Republicans voted against the state’s operating budget and capital budget, which included money for schools.

“I think on balance, people can get up and shout and scream about why they’re not voting for it, but the fact of the matter is they weren’t voting for it anyway, just the same as they didn’t vote for the operating budget or the capital budget.”

About $47 million from the tax increase would go to school construction in the first year. Montgomery and Prince George’s counties as well as Baltimore City would receive $9 million each. Baltimore County would get $7 million; Anne Arundel County would receive $5 million; and Howard County would get $4 million. Allegany, Carroll, Garrett, Frederick and Washington counties would get a total of $750,000. Calvert Charles and St. Mary’s would receive $1.3 million. Eastern Shore counties, including Dorchester, Caroline, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Somerset and Talbot, would get a total of $1.3 million.

O’Malley says he’ll sign the legislation.

Legislation to help the state’s struggling horse racing tracks remained pending with hours left in the session.

With the Preakness Stakes set for next month, Maryland lawmakers also are grappling with legislation to allocate millions of dollars in state aid to help Maryland’s troubled horse racing industry. Under a bill moving through the Senate, Maryland racetracks would have to agree to simulcast their races before they get help.

Gov. Martin O’Malley told reporters Monday afternoon that the bill was “very much hung up in the waning hours of this General Assembly session,” because of the simulcasting provision.

Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, D-Calvert, also said the bill was having problems, like many other measures.

“There are all kinds of bills that are in trouble,” Miller told reporters Monday afternoon, saying the governor and lawmakers should have moved more aggressively to address problems with the horse racing bill.

While there’s plenty of fine-tuning to do, some key pieces of legislation this session have already been approved.

The House of Delegates gave final approval Monday night to O’Malley’s proposed Invest Maryland venture capital fund. The governor’s original idea for the state to auction off $142 million in tax credits was scaled back to $100 million. The state would use the proceeds from the auction — up to $75 million — to invest in high-tech businesses.

Lawmakers already have agreed to state pension reform. The amount state employees pay for retirement will rise from 5 percent to 7 percent, starting on July 1. Monthly premiums for health insurance will rise from 20 percent to 25 percent, and a co-pay system will be maintained. The plan, which was proposed by O’Malley, aims to increase Maryland’s funding of its pension system from 64 percent to 80 percent by 2023.

Some high-profile legislation backed by O’Malley already has been shelved for summer study. Lawmakers had too many questions about a proposal to require state utilities to enter into long-term contracts to buy wind energy. Lawmakers also decided earlier in the session to delay a proposal embraced by O’Malley to crack down on septic system pollution.

“There were a couple of big proposals we had as part of our agenda, the size of which caused the legislature to choke and kick them to summer study,” O’Malley said Monday.

Miller laughed at the comment.

“I think it would have been better if he’d have choked before he announced that he was for septics,” Miller said, referring to the governor’s surprise announcement during his State of the State speech that he backed the restrictions.

A new defense for Maryland residents who use marijuana for medical reasons has cleared the Maryland General
Assembly.

The Senate gave final approval to the bill Monday night on a 39-5 vote.

The bill would enable Marylanders to avoid a $100 fine and misdemeanor conviction if they are arrested with marijuana but have a doctor’s permission to use the drug for medicinal purposes.

The measure also calls for a study on how medical marijuana could be distributed in the future in Maryland.

One Comment

I say no to the bill. If my daughter can’t get free or reduced tuition then why give it to students that are here illegally. I want equal for all that is here legally not illegally I am tired of paying for illegals period they come here illegally or not they need to pay the taxes we do or make them go back to where they came from.

I could make the same argument about cannabis prohibition. According to all of the record keepers its the alcoholics that cause the bulk of the crime, violence and destruction. Yet Im forced to support all of those drug addicts via higher taxes on everything. 30 Million Americans want it legalized yet most of our so called representatives prefer to provide preferential treatment to the 1/2 dozen guys that own pill factories. Why should I have to pay for the upkeep of all of these alcoholics while my rights are trampled on every day of the week.

Cannabis users dont even factor into all of the violence and crime stats according to the same record keepers (UN, WHO, CDC, and every police force in the country). There is no justice for average people. Everyone of the politicians need to be replaced in the next election and people need to do their homework this time.

4,348 children will try Alcohol for the first time today. Thousands of these children will die every year due to alcohol overdose.

3,577 children will try Cannabis for the first time today. None of these children will die of cannabis overdose according to the CDC and other official record keepers. In fact not one soul has ever died of overdose due to marijuana consumption.

And according to the UN, WHO & CDC’s statistics, 40-60% of all violence is related to alcohol use. Violence statistics related to marijuana use are virtually nonexistent.

Yet our government protects the alcoholic industry and spends $135,000,000 (million) per day on the prohibition of cannabis. Not one dime of that is spent to prohibit alcohol, the true root of many of our social problems

End the prohibition and end the massive waste of a HUGE PORTION of our taxpayer dollars that accomplish absolutely nothing other than making cartels rich and Big Pharmas stockholders richer.

So why shouldnt those that use alcohol & contribute to all of the problems have to pay for a larger percentage of there upkeep?

I AGREE WITH BOTH OF YOU. I HOPE THEY RUN OUT OF TIME AND I HOPE THEY REALLY DON’T CONSIDER PASSING THIS AGAIN. IT IS MAJOR BS THAT OUR OWN IN COUNTRY KIDS CAN’T AFFORD TO GO TO COLLEGE BUT YET WE ARE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE ILLEGALS. AND THEIR DEFENSE IS “WELL, THERE COULD BE REALLY GOOD TALENT OUT THERE THAT WE COULD BE OVERLOOKING IF THIS IS NOT PASSED”. WHAT ABOUT THE GREAT TALENT OF OUR OWN KIDS? GIVE THEM A CHANCE BEFORE ALLOWING ALL OF MEXICO TO COME OVER HERE AND TAKE UP OUR KIDS SPOTS IN THE CLASSROOMS AND THEIR TUITION!

Good. I was ready to protest with my feet. I was already searching apartments out of state along with jobs. Truthfully, I still want to move far far from MurderMore (Baltimore). This simply drops the immediate need to… because that would have been my personal breaking point. GONE…….

I bet each one of you would have voted with your grandparents to deny entry to the University of Maryland to African Americans. Leopards never change their spots only the cause they choose to show their prejudice through

You forget that it was once “legal” to own slaves. It was once “legal” to openly discriminate against my people. You forget it was once ” illegal” for a Black man to even look at a white woman. What part of “what is Just” don’t you understand

I’m with Mike here, Doug. You cannot equate the fight for civil rights and all that that has, and continues to, entail with passing laws that provide benefits to people who are in our country illegally. It’s apples and oranges. It has absolutely nothing to do with racism, and I’m offended that you accuse us of that.

all i have to say is…. you think we should reward law breakers? how about free apartments for child sex offenders? huh?? or how about free gun’s for drug dealers? im pretty sure they are next for bill’s to pass… dumb state.. ugh..

Doug, you are a prime example of someone that is uneducated due to the lack of funding for maryland schools because money was spent to educate ILLEAGLE imagrents. slavery and illeagle imagration are two different things.

Stop tripping. ILLEGAL immigrants, aliens whatever you so desire ARE NOT like voting for african Americans. I’m black so just stop tripping. If you care so much about illegals then where are you in assisting the thousands of poor and disenfranchised black teens? Children? WHERE? Just as I thought.
And, for you illegal immigrant supporters, tell me why it is ok to deny rights to citizens: GAY CITIZENS but embrace illegals. Illegals need to go home wherever home is: China, Mexico, Ghana, wherever.

um… have you not checked? in the state of maryland white’s are now a minoritie. the finding’s have even been published. not to get into a race battle. just saying. as of 2005 white’s have been a state wide minoritie.

I left Maryland three years ago because I was fed up with the taxes, BGE bills and politicians. The taxes are incredibly cheaper in Georgia and my electric bills are cheap because our energy provider is a co-op. We even get a check at the end of the year. Maryland is such a corrupt state. I see many other people leaving.

I have applied for jobs down south. I want to leave this city so bad. My son joined the military to get away from baltimore. Can the politicians help me get a job down south and move? They help illegals with what they want.

Ok first my kids cant get in to pre school because they have to accept the NON ENGLISH speaking kids first. And now this. what the Heck is going on. It just makes me so freaking mad about this i see red. what happens to the kids that actually want to go to school or collage and cant afford it and cant get anything due to this law. i guess the American kids dont have a snow balls chance in Hell. people need to realize what they are doing to their own natural citizens!!!!!

Think about this……illegals go to school and get a good education for less and when they get out of school, they will take jobs for less pay than Americans would. It is a win win situation for the government. So not only will our kids get the shaft in education but also in the workforce as well! Go figure!

The Governor of GA is going to sign a bill next week similar to the AZ immigration bill. That’s what the people of GA demanded and that’s what we the people will get. Of course the bleeding heart liberals are threatening to sue saying the bill is unconstitutional. Illegal aliens have no constitutional rights.

This is so wrong. The dems are increasing taxes because the state needs the money for education, etc. yet they vote to subsidize the education of those here illegally. Many citizens/legal residents are scrimping by while the illegals get their handouts…

What I would like to know is how those here illegally can work under a legal status. Someone please explain this…

Congrats MD!! I’m so glad my tax $$$ will go to these illegals. Let’s hope they use school to learn english, get a job and pay taxes…not like anyone else in their families. So glad O’Malley got re-elected….boy it’s so great living in this state. HIgh taxes, deficits, high crime….I’m embarrassed living here.

Would love to leave this state that is going downhill, but would not be able to find job in another state, let alone sell the house. The citizens of this state are against this passing, yet it was done anyway.

Bez, do you really think that these people will have to learn English? I have already gotten the connect ed messages in Spanish. Every school system letter that comes home is printed in both English and Spanish. There is no money in the budget for our best and brightest students. All resources go to bring up the rear kids.

You know, I always supported helping others, but this is way out of hand. We need to take care of ourselves before we can take care of others.

I’d like to know why they ask for the public’s opinion on the in state tuition, 88% says no. But it does not matter what we say. O’Mally is ready to sign the bill. It is time they STOP catering to these hispanics and start putting the American people 1st.I am so tired of walking in Walmart and feeling like I’m in Mexico. Every time we pick something up, it is written in Spanish 1st. I WILL NOT vote for any candidate that supports Illegal immagration. Something has got to happen as I see the American people getting so tired of this, they are going to start taking matters into their own hands.

the fact that this bill passed is rediculious! When I moved into this state I was refgused instate tuitioin but an Illegal can get it! No this is not right! The only thing that this state is looking out for is the Illegals. KEY WORD ILLEGAL!!!

I now HATE this state! My child has to compete with illegals to get into college while my tax dollars supports them? I now have to pay 50% more tax on a six pack? I don’t think so! I’ll be sending my child to school in Virginia, as well as buying EVERYTHING I need in tax free Delaware! Enjoy the tax LOSS Maryland! As soon as my house sells, I’m out of here!

Let’s face it, the Illegals have more rights then the American people. I hate the fact that english is not mandatory. I stood in line behind one the other day that paid in cash, opened his wallet, had loads of credit cards and an independence card on top. And ya know when they speak spanish, 9 chances out of 10, they are talking about you. They already have our jobs, they can’t take anymore from us then they already have. It is so pathetic…..

AJAJJAJ WE DONT TALking about you end yes we got money a lot end yes we got nice jobs but we got noT your job we got this position because we workin so har end i mak $ 80.0000 a year probabli more that you because your are so layse…

Look at you Mr. Illegal, can’t even spell. The only reason you would even come close to making that much money a year is beause it’s under the table pay..that mans you don’t pay taxes. You don’t belong here, none of you do. Get out! Go back to where ever you came from. If you want to be an AMERICAN come here like one, get papers, be legal, pay taxes and learn ENGLISH!!!

Wait a second. To qualify, the illegal immigrant has to have finished 2 years of community college, AND their parents have to prove 3 years of paying income tax prior to the student graduating from high school? Do illegals actually file taxes? How can anyone without a social security number? How can illegals get a number? Apparently they can if it’s part of the legislation, to that I say OMG!
I also agree with another post, too much is put toward students on the bottom and NO WHERE NEAR enough for those at the top. So glad my kid is finished school and is in college OUT OF STATE.

I guess the next thing for illegals will be free housing –state provided free car with gas and a 50K a year paycheck for doing absolutely nothing..
This is a bunch of nonsense(can’t really use the right words). If these stupid politicians want to do this–LET THEM PAY FOR IT !!!!! We are taxed to death and they just keep putting more burden on us–I just wonder when O’malley and Rawlings Blake are going to tax us on how many cubic feet of air we breath or maybe I shouldn’t give those losers any ideas.

O’Malley and everyone who voted for the in-state tuition for “ILLEGAL” immigrants are criminals because they violated their oath of office to uphold the law and they need to be recalled and put in jail. We need to organize and file suit against everyone of them!! If other countries used Facebook to organize protests then maybe we can use Facebook to organize and raise funds to sue these representatives; starting with O’Malley.

this is absolute bs. why should illegal immigrants be given an education at a discounted rate while most people here LEGALLY struggle to afford it? if you want to go to school in maryland, you should come here legally, just like all the other students. way to go maryland.

Country Bumpkin, they save money because they have 10 families living in one house… And Jeffrey, my daughter knew a woman who dated illegals. They pay for a ss# and driver’s license and insurance through someone in Silverspring Md. I just can’t find out who, as I am so ready to report this to ICE. I think every state needs to join Arizonia’s laws.

I’d like to know how they are going to prove the money from increased alcohol taxes went to the schools like they say.
No one has yet been able to prove if the lottery money went were it was suppose to go – like road work, which we know just isn’t so. Increasing tolls was also to be used for our roadways. Have you taken a ride lately?
And of course, they pull the rug out from under us with the damn tuition for illegals. We can’t afford teachers, police officers, firefighters but we can afford to foot the college bills for criminals. Where’s the justice in this?
Good job you bunch of jerks.

Colombia…..You commented on my post, I think you said you work hard and we are lazy? No we are not Lazy, just unemployed BECAUSE YOU DO HAVE our jobs!!! And if you spoke english I could have understood your response. I don’t know if you are legal or not because you did not state that fact.

I have to beg , borrow to get the money to put my son through college and now with Americans losing their jobs , wages being cut , giving huge tax cuts to the wealthy , cutting our teachers and their salaries they give away our money to ILLEGAL Immigrants.

in mexcio your arrested if your illegal in usa you get frre education `why were these politicans elected, i don’t want polital correct, i don’t want my taxes going to illegals for school when i work my entire life to send my kids to college, the next politicans need more common sense,,,,,these politicans to not stand for the same belifs i do and omally go to hell

are u kidding me? what is wrong with this state? support for education, sure, but for those that are not only immigrants but illegal immigrants? 50% tax hike on alcohol? really? 50%? anyone notice how many local bars, restaurants have closed in the past few years? how do you get the extra revenue, when the businesses close their doors? and sure, lets crack down on septic pollution, after a real bay clean up, huh? this state is in trouble, real trouble, watch the exodus, people will escape the madness of life in maryland, i will soon be one of them

OMALLY AT A TIME THE UNITED STATES IS FACING HARD SHIPS AND TIGHTENING THERE BETLS , O’MALLY THINKS IT’S WISE TO SEND IMMIGRANTS TO SCOOL ON TAX DOLLARS, THIS IS O’MALLY AT HIS BEST, PEOPLE WE CAN’T AFFORD MISTAKES LIKE O’MALLY

They spoke with their votes. It is now time to rally and speak with ours. Use all the “social networks” to keep their names out there and REMEMBER.
As a baby boomer, I am seeing more and more people every day who used to love MD ,leaving it to retire elsewhere due to the direction this state is taking.
And I am sure as more and more ILLEGALS flock here that number will only increase. High crime, high taxes, business unfriendly ,favoring those who break our laws and leaders who do not represent the people they were elected to serve, will decrease the “working” “taxpaying” base slowly but surely as more and more residents move out of the state. It is a nice place to visit, but you don’t want to live here.

Doug this has NOTHING to do with slavery so get off your high horse.. It is b/c of people like YOU that the slavery issues continue to day. And no, you can not compare this issue to slavery. O”Malley is really slapping us in the face w/ this one. Why is he trying so hard to appeal and win w/ the immigrants? Illegals should be shipped back to where they came from and NO reduced tuition. My kid is ranked first in her class and we are dirt poor.. SHE isn’t getting reduced tuition. What a fool. No wonder Balto is one of the worst states to live in. Way to kiss but* O’Malley

Doug, I usually think you are an intelligent and funny poster, but on this I have to disagree. Legal immigrants should be outraged because this is turning otherwise reasonable people into racists because there are so many illegal Hispanic immigrants that they are starting to make the assumption that anyone hispanic is illegal… and you should never put slavery on the same plane as people clambering to get here illegally. The African people were sold, kidnapped, coerced, and tricked in to being brought here to be used, abused and… by the way… they were paid nothing, they could have nothing, they could not vote, they could not even manage to stay with their families. No, people coming here and taking advantage of the system is not the same. Not the same at all.

Ok so wait….. first the illegal students have to enroll in, and attend, community college for 2 yrs? If they’re illegal, how is this done? And their illegal parents have to show proof of paying taxes for, what, 3 yrs? If they’re illegal, how is this done?

My hope would be that the ripple affect from this would be tracking down and arresting those with stolen SSN’s, because THAT is the ONLYway these two requirements can be met.

Is it possible that one decides to give up citizenship and somehow becomes an illegal immigrant? Because then maybe I would be entitled to all of these handouts and subsidies. Maybe my kids would receive free meals in school and also get extra educational resources. This Dream Act is erroding the true AMERICAN DREAM.

Okay, so now that this is a done deal, are there any requirements stating that those who benefit from this will have to somehow stay within the state? I can just see it now… Illegals flocking here to take advantage of this, then leaving as soon as college graduation comes.